Hand held GPS for hunting/icefishing

scott_r

scott_r

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Hey guys

Im looking to buy a good handheld GPS and am wondering what you guys use? Im looking for one thats compatible with Sask backroad maps. Im thinking on the GPS Map 64 or 64 S??
 
I have the 62S and I highly recommend it. It holds signal really well, easy to use and screen is big enough to see from a distance as in my handlebars on my atv. Also, stay away from touchscreen models as they are useless with gloves on.

Patrick
 
eTrex 20 will do the trick for considerably less cost than the 62/62s/64/64s.

I had one, but I lost it. Loved it while I owned it. Will buy another eTrex 20 if I decide I really need one, but now that I know my way around my favourite hunting spots, I don't find a need...
 
I have and use the 78s Garmin.
Color, extremely quick sat acquisition, make your own map capability, many features and although I don't use it for marine, I believe it is their marine model and it will float per ops manual. AA bats, external antennae capable options.
 
I have the garmin 76 color and it is good quality. Fast sat pick up and
Batteries last good. It had the micro chip card that you can do maps on
Or buy premade maps. I use the card when go to coast for back up gps
In case main depth finder calfs
 
phinton81 said:
I have the 62S and I highly recommend it. It holds signal really well, easy to use and screen is big enough to see from a distance as in my handlebars on my atv. Also, stay away from touchscreen models as they are useless with gloves on.

Patrick
Click to expand...

+1 on the Garmin 62S.
Just buy the backwoods map for the province you will be using it in.
 
ironsighter said:
eTrex 20 will do the trick for considerably less cost than the 62/62s/64/64s.

I had one, but I lost it. Loved it while I owned it. Will buy another eTrex 20 if I decide I really need one, but now that I know my way around my favourite hunting spots, I don't find a need...
Click to expand...

Love my eTrex 20 too, it hits the sweet spot between price (since it's older) and function. Wait for it to be on sale at your local Canadian Tire and go for it. The Topo Canada map files are kinda mediocre, but none of the other major players have anything better anyway.
 
I've got a Magellan 350h. It's absolute crap, but for sale :).
A couple years ago, my super awesome wife bought it for me for Christmas. She saw the camo on it and figured I'd love it. It doesn't even offer degree/min/sec, or a compass. It does have a nice icon, for where I park the truck though.
I'm happy using my 10 year old etrex, as backup to maps and compass.

When the time comes, I'm getting the Montana.
 
Pick up a Dual XGPS160 SkyPro GPS module, uses GPS and GLONASS satellites. Pair it with your smartphone via Bluetooth. Then download a GOOD map app and download maps for offline use and your laughing.

I've been using this on my iPhone for 2 years now. Couldn't stomach $650+ for a Garmin (or the like).

This way I have one device to use for everything. Technically 2 due to the additional GPS module, but you can tuck the GPS unit in a pocket or in your pack and forget about it. You can also pair multiple devices to the unit at the same time for others in your group or whatever.

We all know smartphones SUCK and don't work for maps once you're out of cell service. Well, with the SkyPro unit you can be in airplane mode (with the exception of your Bluetooth) and get hyper accurate positioning.

Just make sure you use a quality map app with good downloadable maps.
 
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kalsc: Could you explain that procedure? You use the phone to download maps, after installing a good app, right? I'm a bit lost after that. Do you use the phone to read?

Thanks in advance. :)
 
No problem.

I'll use my current set up as an example. I use an iPhone, the app I've chosen to use is Pocket Earth (PE).

I downloaded PE, then downloaded the maps I wanted to use in PE while offline. So far I've downloaded and used Alberta, Saskatchewan, BC and Yukon.

When I'm out and about where there is no cell service I turn on the XGPS module which is already synced with my iPhone via Bluetooth. Once connected, the phone uses the GPS data from the XGPS module for its navigation information. So without cell service or wifi, the smartphone while running PE and using the XGPS module tells me exactly where I am, no matter where I am. The XGPS was designed for pilots, it's used along with their EFB (electronic flight bag) to navigate while aloft.

PE can track your route, plan a route, provide manual or auto waypoints, show metrics from your trip. Case in point, on my last heavy haul overnight backpacking trip the detailed graphs showed length of trip, total elevation gain and speeds of travel at the various elevations. There may be a better offline map app out there but so far this works great for me along with the. XGPS module.
 
scott_r said:
Hey guys

Im looking to buy a good handheld GPS and am wondering what you guys use? Im looking for one thats compatible with Sask backroad maps. Im thinking on the GPS Map 64 or 64 S??
Click to expand...

I've got a 64S, and my buddy has a 64ST.

Don't waste your money on the 64ST. The included topo maps are useless.

Don't waste your money on the 64S. S theoretically stands for "sensor", which means barometer and compass. Neither of which work AT ALL in my unit, or my buddies. The unit has no idea how high I am, and has no idea which direction I'm facing while I stand still. Worthless.

The 64 base model may be OK, but remember Garmin deleted weatherproof power cord inputs a few years ago, so when mine was plugged in on the quad, I had to put a bread bag over it. So lame.

In both cases, the UI is similar to a quality, polished smartphone app in the same way that the aerodynamic qualities of a hummingbird and a cinder block are similar. 1980s clunky.

The 64 comes up for sale on Amazon periodically.

I was getting (pre power cord) 4-5 days of 6-8 hours per day use out of the 64S with those fancy non-rechargeable lithium batteries.
 
Bartledan said:
I've got a 64S, and my buddy has a 64ST.

Don't waste your money on the 64ST. The included topo maps are useless.

Don't waste your money on the 64S. S theoretically stands for "sensor", which means barometer and compass. Neither of which work AT ALL in my unit, or my buddies. The unit has no idea how high I am, and has no idea which direction I'm facing while I stand still. Worthless.

The 64 base model may be OK, but remember Garmin deleted weatherproof power cord inputs a few years ago, so when mine was plugged in on the quad, I had to put a bread bag over it. So lame.

In both cases, the UI is similar to a quality, polished smartphone app in the same way that the aerodynamic qualities of a hummingbird and a cinder block are similar. 1980s clunky.

The 64 comes up for sale on Amazon periodically.

I was getting (pre power cord) 4-5 days of 6-8 hours per day use out of the 64S with those fancy non-rechargeable lithium batteries.
Click to expand...

Have you calibrated the altimeter and the compass?
 
Not sure about the features on the other ones mentioned, but the Garmin Montana 650 has some pretty nice features... Such as being able to download the topo maps - I got the ontario one, that shows fishing zones, WMU boundaries etc. On top of that, it has some nice features like marking and labelling waypoints, and automatically recording your current track... That last feature is amazing, because I can trod deep into the bush and if I get disoriented on direction for whatever reason, without fiddling to find markers i can just click on the "Track Back" menu and get the path back to where i came from.
 
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